Lawyer says she was fired for adopting child

WASHINGTON — An attorney is suing one of Washington’s most prominent law firms, claiming she was fired for taking time off to adopt a child.

Pamela Levinson of Bethesda has filed a $5 million gender discrimination lawsuit against Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, the multinational firm commonly known as WilmerHale.

The complaint says WilmerHale violated District of Columbia law by firing Levinson in February 2012 while she took leave to adopt a daughter from China. It says Levinson received her first negative performance evaluation in 7 years with the firm while on leave.

The lawsuit also says she was passed over for promotions because of her age and gender. The complaint was filed Thursday in D.C. Superior Court.

Susan Murley, a co-managing partner at WilmerHale, says Levinson’s claims have no merit.